Settable type-bar inking and printing means in ticket issuing machines



July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY 3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPE-BAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINESFiled Aug. 30, 1963 13 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. WALTON M. HENR).

w i/a/ ATTO N Y.

July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY 3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPE-BAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINESFiled Aug. 30, 1963 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

WAL TON M. HENRY July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY 3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPE'BAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINESFiled Aug. 30, 1963 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 UIIII INVENTOR. WAL T'O/V M. HENRYA r TOR/V75 Y.

EIY

July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY 3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPE-BAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINESFiled Aug. 30, 1963 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

WA L TON M. HENR Y July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY BAR INKING AND PRINTINGMEANS SETTABLE TYPE TICKET ISSUING MACHINES l3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug.30, 1963 INVENTOREA WAL TON M HENRY A TTORNE Y July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPEBAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINESFlled Aug 50, 1965 13 Sheets-Sheet E INVENTOR. AL TON M. HE NR Y. %d A TTOR/V5 K July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY SETTABLE TYPE-BAR INKING AND PRINTINGMEANS TICKET ISSUING MACHINES 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 30, 1963INVENTOR. WALTON M. HEN/P). Y

A r ran/v5 Y July 18, 1967 w. SETTABLE TYPE-BAR IN Filed Aug. 50, 1965 MHENRY KING AND PRINTING MEANS TICKET ISSUING' MACHINES l3 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR.

WALTON M. HENRY ATTORNEY.

July 18, 1967 w. M. HENRY 3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPE-BAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINESFiled Aug. 50, 1963 13 $heetsSheet 9 INVENTOR.

WALTON M. HENRY 42 BY O fi dv' W ATTORNE).

w. M. HENRY 3,33I,3 15 BAR INKING AND PRINTING MEANS IN July 18, 1967SETTABLE TYPE TICKET ISSUING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1963 13Sheets-Sheet ll IN VEN TOR. WA L TON M.

HENRX AT EY.

July 18, 1967 w. HENRY 3,331,315

SETTABLE TYPEBAR ING AND NTING MEANS IN I TICKET ISSUING MAC ES FiledAug. 50, 1965 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 F ig. l9

[L1] 1- v: M v

INVENTOR WALTON M. HENRY Fig.

13 Sheets-Sheet 15 Fig. 1 52 M HENRY SETTABLE TYPEBAR INKING ANDPRINTING MEANS til L111:-

TICKET ISSUING MACHINES July 18, 1967 Filed Aug. 30

' Fig. 27

1% Fig.35 /43 )26 72 6. F lg. 34

ATTO EY United States Patent 3,331,315 SETTABLE TYPE-BAR INKING ANDPRINTING MEANS IN TICKET ISSUING MACHINES Walton M. Henry, Rydal, Pa.,assignor to Soabar Company, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledAug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,743 11 Claims. (Cl. 10168) The presentinvention relates to new and useful label and ticket printing anddispensing apparatus for progressively or stepwise imprinting severallines of information on successive ticket or label length portions of atape, as the tape is intermittently fed through the apparatus,automatically, in successive ticket or label length steps thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive,efiicient and reliable ticket or label printing and dispensing machine,for printing and dispensing merchandise-pricing tickets or labels andsimilar tickets or labels for other purposes, in a rapid and eflicientmanner and with quick change of composition.

A further object of the present invention is to permit the rapid changeof the composition of the several lines of printed matter, without theusual burdens of conventional type-setting.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear more fullyfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, one aspect ofthe machine of the present invention is a plurality or sets oflongitudinally shiftable type-bars, each set nested and slideablydisposed within a channel representing one of the several printingpositions corresponding to one of the several lines of information to beimprinted progressively or stepwise on each ticket or label, with eachtype-bar carrying longitudinally distributed downwardly-facingtype-faces, and an upwardly and downwardly oscillatable tape-carryingand tape-feeding press-platen beneath and in operative juxtaposition tosaid type-bars.

Another aspect of the machine of the present invention is an inking-padmeans oscillatable up and down and also forwardly and rearwardly, inoperative juxtaposition to the type-bars and said press-platen andhaving its inking oscillations or strokes alternating with the printingstrokes of said press-platen, so that while the press-platen is in thereceded phase of its oscillatory cycle, the inking means will be in theink-applying portion of its oscillatory cycle, and vice versa.

Another aspect or phase of the machine of the present invention is theautomatic tape feeding means and label cut-off means carried by saidpress-platen and timing means therefor.

Still other novel aspects and features of the machine of the presentinvention will appear from the accompanying description and the appendedclaims and the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersindicate like parts,

FIGURE 1 represents a perspective view of a machine embodying thepresent invention, viewed from the front and right side of the machine.

FIGURE 2 represents a rear-right perspective view of said machine.

FIGURE 3 represents a front elevational view of the machine.

FIGURE 4 represents a top plan view of the machine;

Patented July 18, 1967 viewed normal to the plane of the type-barsupporting bed thereof.

FIGURE 4A represents a section on line 4A4A of FIGURE 4. l i

FIGURE 5 represents a right side elevational view of said fachine, withthe tape roll supporting means omitted and with the motor omitted andwith the uppermost portion of the machine broken away; this view showingthe machine with the tape-carrying press-platen thereof nearly in itslowermost position and with the inking pad nearly in its uppermost orink-applying position. I

FIGURE 6 represents a left side elevational view of the machine in thesame phase thereof.

FIGURE 7 represents a left side elevational view of the machine with theleft frame plate omitted and shown in dotted lines, and showing thetape-carrying pressplaten in its uppermost or printing position and withthe inking pad in its retracted position.

FIGURE 8 represents an elevational view of the inking pad adjusteccentric.

FIGURE 9 represents a top plan view of the printer arms and of thepress-platen and tape-guide carried thereby and of the inker and theoscillating means therefor; with the press-platen shown in its upper orprinting position and with the inker shown in its retracted position.

FIGURE 10 represents a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of thetape-carrying press-platen, with the upper tape-guiding plate removed.

FIGURE 11 represents a front elevational view of the press-platen and ofthe tape feeding means, on the same scale as FIGURE 10, taken generallyon lines 11-11 of FIGURE 7; with the press-platen shown in its retractedor lowermost position and with the tape feeding means shown at the endof its tape-advancing stroke.

FIGURE 12 represents a front elevational view of the same, with thepress-platen in its uppermost or printing position and with the tapefeeding means in its retracted position.

FIGURE 13 represents a rear elevational view of the press-platen andtape feeding means in the same phase as that shown in FIGURE 11, butincluding also the upper tape-guide plate.

FIGURE 14 represents a front perspective view of the press-platen andtape-feeding means, with the upper tapeguide plate omitted, with thepress-platen shown in or near its lowermost position and with thetape-feeding means shown at or near the end of its tape-advancingstroke.

FIGURE 15 represents a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of thetape and of the tape-feeding finger member, showing their interlockingrelationship during the tape-advancing stroke of the finger member.

FIGURE 16 represents a cross-sectional view of line 16-46 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 17 represents a side elevational view of the type bar actuatingeccentric.

FIGURE 18 represents a front elevational view of the same, with theball-bearing and strap thereof in crosssection, on line 18-18 of FIGURE7.

FIGURE 19 represents a side elevational view of one of the narrow typebars having eleven type elements thereon from 1 to 0 and the periodFIGURE 20 represents a bottom plan view of the same, showing theaforementioned type elements thereof, this showing of the type facesbeing that of their imprints; the type faces being mirror images of whatis shown in FIGURE 20.

FIGURE 21 represents a side elevational view of another narrow type bar.

FIGURE 22 represents a bottom plan view of the same, showing type facesof abbreviations and symbols; the type faces shown in FIGURE 22 beinglikewise that of their imprints, and the actual type faces would bemirror images of those in FIGURE 22.

FIGURE 23 represents a side elevational view of the wide type bar.

FIGURE 24 represents a bottom plan view of the same, showing the typefaces thereof comprising typical words which may be printed by such widetype bar.

FIGURE 25 represents a top plan view of the inker, with its cover partlybroken away.

FIGURE 26 represents a side elevational view of the inker.

FIGURE 27 represents a bottom plan view of the inker.

FIGURE 28 represents a rear end elevational view of the inker.

FIGURE 29 represents a section on line 29-29 of FIGURE 25.

FIGURE 30 represents a section on line 30-30 of FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 31 represents a section on line 31-31 of FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 32 represents a section on line 3232. of FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 33 represents a top plan view of the ticketfeed member 93.

FIGURE 34 represents a front elevational view of the same.

FIGURE 35 represents an end elevational view of the same.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, thereference numerals 1 and 2 designate similar vertical side plates orframe members held in spaced relationship by the flanged front baseplate or member 3 at the front of the basal portions thereof and by thesimilar flanged rear motor-mounting member or bracket 4; thecorresponding marginal zones of the side plates 1 and 2 being secured tothe flanges of the members 3 and 4 by screws or other suitable fasteningmeans.

Similar inclined co-planar lower and upper or front and rear plates and6 are disposed between the side frame members 1 and 2, with their innerfacing ends 7 and 8 spaced from each other a suitable distance toprovide a clearance through which the tape supporting and guidingpress-platen 48 carried by the inner ends of a pair of oscillatoryprinter-arms 38 and 39 is moved upwardly for pressing the three adjacentticket-portions 110 of the tape 25 into printing engagement with thedownwardly facing printing-faces 109 of the multi-face type-bars ortype-bearing members 14, 15 and 16 or of the vinyl printing plates orstrips 19 secured to the lower edges or faces thereof, and also forpermitting the entrance of the inking pads 26 during the inking strokesof the machine. The lower and upper type bar supporting plates 5 and 6constitute a bed upon which the type-bars 14, 15 and 16 slideably rest,and said plates 5 and 6 are rigidly secured between the side plates 1and 2 in any suitable manner.

Separators 9 and are mounted on the plates 5 and 6, parallel with theside plates 1 and 2, and in suitable spaced relation thereto and inrelation to each other, so as to provide three type bar receivingchannels 11, 12 and 13, respectively, corresponding to the threeprinting positions at which the three lines of information areimprinted.

Within each of the channels 12 and 13 a plurality (as, for instance,seven) type-bars 15 and 16, respectively, are slideably disposed andnested, 'with just enough sideclearance to permit the bars to be slidindividually or collectively, without any appreciable side-play.

A single type-bar 14 is disposed in the channel 11, having a lowertype-bearing face which is the full width or nearly the full width ofthe channel. The channelwide type-bar 14 is preferably of-U-shapedcross-section having the lower type-bearing web 17 and havingsideflanges 18 which nest between the side frame member 1 and theseparator 9.

Printing plates or strips 19 are formed of vinyl or other suitableslightly deformable and form-retrieving plaster or elastomer materialand having longitudinally spaced and distributed type-faces projectingdownwardly therefrom are adhesively secured to the lower faces of thetype-bars 14, 15 and 16. These type-faces may be numbers from zero tonine on some of the type-bars 15 and 16 and may be numerals as well asother symbols or indicia (such as for, by, etc.) or other typebars 15and 16, and may be department designating words or abbreviations ontype-bar 14, for price-marking and other-wise marking goods ormerchandise, so that by properly shifting the seven type-bars in the twochannels 12 and 13, the product-code number and unitprice may be printedin two of the lines, while by shifting the type-bar 14, thedepartment-designation may be printed in still another line.

Detnet-notches or position-notches 20 are formed in the upper edges ofthe type-bars of 15 and 16 and in the upper edges of the side-flanges 18of the type-bar 14. On the intervening portions 21 of the upper surfacesof the type-bars 15 and 16 and of the flanges 18 of the type-bar 14,readable counterparts of the type-faces therebeneath are provided asraised characters or are stamped into or otherwise applied so that thetype-bars may readily be set to their desired positions for presentingthe selected type-faces thereof in their respective printing positionsof the channels 11, 12 and 13.

An upper impression-support type-back-up member 23 is mounted betweenthe side frame-plates 1 and 2, by means of the screws 24, for backing upthe type-bars 14, 15 and 16 against the upward pressure exerted againsttheir type-faces when the tape 25 is pressed upwardly thereagainst forthe printing impression and also when the inking pads 26 are pressedupwardly there-against during the alternate inking operations. To theforwardly extending stepped-down marginal portions of the support 23 thethree comb-like spring-fingered type-bar-positioning members or detentcombs 30 are secured by the screws 31. The individual spring-fingers 32of the detentcombs are bent downwardly and rearwardly upon themselves,to form the downwardly projecting detent portions 33, which are adaptedto engage in the notches 20 along the upper edges of the type-bars 14,15 and 16, thereby to position the type faces thereof in registrationwith the respective printing-positions (81, 82 and 83, in FIGURE 9) ofthe three channels 11, 12 and 13. The clearance between the uppersurfaces of the type-bar-supporting bed-plates 5 and 6 and the lowersurface of the typeback-up member 23 is generally equal to the verticaldistance between the upper surface 21 of the typebars and the basalplane defined by the flat bottom surfaces of the terminal portions orfeet 78 and 79 thereof. This permits the type-bars 14, 15 and 16 toslide back and forth between said plates 5 and 6 and the member 23 witha neat sliding fit and without undue friction exerted thereon betweensaid plates 5 and 6 and said member 23, but without any appreciable orundue play between the type-bars 14, 15 and 16 and the plates 5 and 6,on the one hand, and the member 23, on the other hand. Hence when theaforementioned upward pressure is exerted on the type-bars by thealternate printing contacts and inking contacts with the type-facesthereof, the

type-bars will not be appreciably displaced in an upward direction butwill be held firmly against such upward printing and inking pressures.

The printer-fulcrum 36 is extended through corresponding holes in thetwo side frame members 1 and 2, at the front of the machine, and ismounted stationarily therein. The front plate 5 may have its front endsecured to and supported on the printer-fulcrum 36, by means of a screwor screws 37 extending through the plate 5 and threaded into the fulcrummember 36; whereby the fulcrum is also secured against turning.

On the laterally projecting free ends of the printerfulcrum 36, theprinter-arms 38 and 39 are pivotally mounted and held against axialdisplacement thereon by the collars 40 and 41 secured to the fulcrum 36by setscrews or other suitable means.

Each of the printer-arms 38 and 39 is provided with a recess 42, inwhich the opposite ends of the printer drive shaft or bar 43 are nested(as indicated in FIGURES 7 and 9) and secured by the screws 44. Helicalcompression springs 45, surrounding the stems of the screws 44, areinterposed between the ends of the printer drive 43 and the printer arms38 and 39, so that the ends of the printer drive shaft or bar 43 do notbottom in the recesses 42 but rest on the helical compression springs45, whereby the screws 44 may be tightened or loosenedslightly, with thesprings 45 taking up the variation of what otherwise would be a slack,thereby adjusting the height of the uppermost or printing position ofthe inner ends 46 and 47 of the printer arms 38 and 39 and consequentlyadjusting the upper most or printing position of the press-platen 48carried by said inner ends of the arms 38 and 39. The lower ends of thesprings 45 may be nested, loosely, in spring-chambers 49 formed in thearms 38 and 39, so as to permit the use of springs 45 having a greaternumber of turns.

A drive shaft 50 is journaled in bearings 51 and 52 mounted in the sideframe members 1 and 2, as indicated in FIGURE 3. To the extending righthand end of the drive shaft 58, the hub 53 of the drive-wheel 54 iskeyed or secured by set-screws 55 or the like.

An eccentric, designated generally by the numeral 56, is fixedly mountedon the drive-shaft 50 by having the hub 57 thereof keyed or pinnedthereto or by being aflixed thereto by set screws or the like. A ring 58is journaled on the eccentric 56 in any suitable manner as shownparticularly in FIGURES 17 and 18.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the eccentric56 is formed of two identical halves 56a and 56b facing each other andhave the inner race 56c of a ball-bearing clamped therebetween; thethree elements 56a, 56b and 560 being secured to each other by thescrews 64 which draw the two halves 56a and 56b toward each other. Theouter race of such ball-bearing constituting the aforementioned ring 58.

A bushing 59 is journaled on the printer-shaft 43. contractable steelband or strap 60 is extended around the ring 58 and the bushing 59 andis then tightened by means of the screw 61 carried by the saddle 62 onone end of the strap 60, which screw engages the screw-slots 63 in theother end of the band 60, in the manner of a wormtightened hose-clamp.In this manner, the bushing 59 and the ring 58 are brought into contactwith each other and held firmly secured to each other, as though theywere integral with each other. By this means, the printer-arms 38 and 39are alternately swung up and down about the fulcrum 36, as thedrive-shaft 50 is rotated by means of the drive-wheel 54. If desired,the bushing 59 and the ring 58 may be otherwise secured to each other,or may be made integral with each other.

The press-platen 48 is aflixed to the inner ends 46 and 47 of theprinter-arms 38 and 39, by means of screws or other suitable means or isformed integrally therewith.

Suitably raised flat-surfaced co-planar elongated pads 66, 67 and 68areformed on the upper surface 69 of the press-platen 48, as shown inFIGURE 14, and are preferably formed integrally with the press-platen orthe platen 48 is relieved between said pads. Inclined tape-leading ramps70, 71 and 72 are provided immediately adjacent the tape-receiving endsof the elongated pads 66, 67 and 68, so as to guide the leading edge ofthe tape 25 onto the pads 66, '67 and 68. A similarly inclined dischargeramp 73 is provided as the discharge end of the platen 48, extendingthereacross from the pad 68 to the rear edge thereof and having itsuppermost or discharge edge 74 at the same level as the surface of thepad 68.

The lengths of the pads 66, 67 and 68 are generally equal to the widthsof the respective channels 13, 12 and 11 and their fore-and-aft width isslightly greater than the vertical height of the type-faces carried bythe typebars 16, 15 and 14. The press-pads 66, 67 and 68 are offsetlaterally, in relation to each other, in columnar fashion, in verticalalignment with the channels 13, 12 and 11, respectively, and with thetype-bars within said channels, and are also offset in a fore-and-aftdirection at a spacing corresponding to the vertical spacing of thethree printed lines 75, 76 and 77 (FIGURE 9).

A tape or ticket guide is superimposed on the pressplaten 48, andcomprises an upper plate 86, a front vertical flange 87 having ahorizonal flange 88 extending forwardly therefrom, and a rear flange 89.The rear flange 89 is disposed suitably rearward of the rear verticalface 90 of the press-platen 48 to provide a string-clearance orpin-clearance 28, while the front vertical flange 87 is disposedadjacent the front vertical faces 91 and 92 of the press-platen 48(FIGURES l0 and 14), and also adjacent the front face of the laterallyreciprocable tape-feed member 93, so as reciprocably to confine and toguide the tape-feed member 93 by the inner surface of the flange 87, asshown in FIGURE 16. The horizontal flange 88 is slidably nested andconfined in the horizontal slots 95 provided in the inner terminalportions 46 and 47 of the printer-arms 38 and 39.

A spring-arm 102 extends downwardly from the rear vertical flange 89 ofthe ticket-guide 85 and has a vertical- 1y elongated latch-opening 103.A rearwardly extending vertically elongated locking or latchingprojection or detent 104 is carried by the rear surface of the terminalportion 46 of the printer-arm 38 (FIGURES 5, 13 and 16) in operativealignment with said vertically elongated latch-opening 183. By flexingthe spring-arm 182 rearwardly, the lower end thereof may be movedrearwardly to clear the projection 104 so that the entire ticketguide 85may-be slid laterally in a right-hand direction, as viewed from thefront, in order to slide the guide 85 off the press-platen 48. Torestore the guide 85, it is slid in a left-hand direction, with thefront flanges 87 and 88 thereof nested between the front guide-surfaces91 and 92 of the press-platen 48 and the slots 95, until it is in itsoperative position as shown in FIGURES 9 and 16, when the spring-arm 102 is released so as to snap into its latching position with theprojection 104 in the opening 103.

The upper wall or plate 86 of the ticket-guide 85 is provided with threeprinting-windows 111, 112 and 113, corresponding to and in registrationwith and defining the three printing-positions 81, 82 and 83 (FIGURE 9),through which printing-windows the selected type-faces of theaforementioned type-bars project when the pressplaten is raised into itsprinting position, thereby to imprint such type-faces on thecorresponding three portions of three adjacent tickets which aredisposed beneath the three channels 11, 12 and 13.

In addition to the three printing-windows 111, 112 and 113,type-clearance windows 115, 116 and 117 are provided in the upper plate86 of the ticket-guide 85, and spaced from their ticket-windows in afore-and-aft direction the same as the fore-and-aft spacing betweenadjacent type-faces on the aforementioned type-bars. Thesetype-clearance windows permit the non-selected typefaces ortype-elements of the type-bars adjacent the selected type-faces in a'fore-and-aft direction and overlying or in registration with the upperplate 86 of the ticket-guide 85, to pass through or penetrate the plate86, so as not to obstruct or bar the passage of the selected type-facesthrough the printing-windows or openings 111, 112 and 113 by contactwith the upper surface of the plate 86.

A thin type-barring or print barring sheet 118 of steel, bronze, brassor other suitable material is disposed immediately beneath the upperplate 86 of the ticket-guide 85 and adjacent the inner surfaces of theflanges 87 and 89 and is preferably adhesively secured thereto. Theprintbarring sheet 118 is provided with three printing-windows oropenings 111a, 112a and 113a, in registration with the printing-windows1'11, 112 and 113, but is otherwise solid or windowless, therebypreventing contact between the fore-and-aft adjacent non-selectedtype-faces and the ticket 110 beneath the ticket-guide plate 86, duringthe printing stroke of the press-platen 48. The print-barring sheet 118is of a thickness of the order of five thousandths of an inch, more orless, and is sufficiently resilient so that when the non-selectedtype-faces bear thereagainst, they will yield sufficiently to permit theselected typefaces in the printing-windows 111, 112 and 113, to reachthe ticket 110 therebeneath and to make an adequate printing impressionthereon. The thickness of the upper guide-plate 86 of the ticket-guide85 is slightly less than the vertical height of the type elements 109 ofthe type plates or strips 19.

The aforementioned printing-windows 111, 112 and 113 are directly overand in registration with the printingpads 66, 67 and 68 and are slightlylarger than said pads and the printing-windows 111a, [112a and 113a inthe type-barring sheet 118 are slightly larger than the printing-windows111, 1-12 and 113 in the plate 86. The tickettape 25 is disposed betweenthe press-pads and the lower surface of the type-barring sheet 118.

A tape-checking leaf-spring 119, of a thickness substantially less thanthe vertical height of the pads 66, 67 and 68, is secured to the top ofthe press-platen 48, by having its stationary end suitably anchored inan appropriate recess or slot in or through the press-platen 48, and isextended in the direction of the travel of the tape, which is from theright to the left in FIGURES 10, 11, 12 and 14.

When the ticket-guide 85 is operatively assembled to the press-platen48, the spring 119 is depressed from its position as shown in FIGURES11, 12 and 14, and consequently its free end exerts an upward force andhence resiliently engages the underside of the ticket or tape andpresses it upwardly against the membrane 118 in the zone indicated bythe numeral 120 (FIGURE 9) where the membrane is backed up by the solidportion of the plate 86 intervening the two clearance-windows 117. Bythis means, a suitable frictional resistance or grip is imposed upon thetape against any retrogressive motion thereof. A plurality of smalldownwardly projecting dimples or ribs are pressed into the thinprint-barring sheet 118 along horizontal lines between and flanking theprint-areas of the tape, so that the contact between the tape and themembrane will be confined to these dimples or ribs whereby the swearingof the theretofore imprinted ink will be prevented when the tape isadvanced successive ticket-lengths.

A feed-guide bar or rod .121 is mounted between the two terminalportions 46 and 47 of the printer-arms, by having its ends mounted andsecured in corresponding openings therein, as indicated in FIGURES 7 and9 to 14, inclusive. A ticket-feed slider 122 is slidably mounted on theguide-rod or bar 121, and a feed-plate 123 is secured to its upwardlyextending body portion by the screw 124 or by any other suitable means;the plate 123 having a flange 125 extending rearwardly from one edgethereof and flanking the corresponding vertical edge of the body ortionof the slider 122, so as to keep the plate 123 from rotating about thescrew 124. The tape-feed member 93 is generally channel-shaped or has across-section which is an inverted U-shape, providing a generallyhorizontal and upwardly extending channel 126 therein which fits overthe upper marginal zone or portion of the plate 123, as indicated inFIGURE 14. A vertical slot 127 is provided in the plate 123, and a pinor web 128 is extended through or across the slot 126 of the feed-finger93. As the feed-finger 93 is placed over the upper end of the plate 123,the pin or web 128 thereof engages in the slot 127 of the plate 123,thereby forming a driving interconnection between the plate 123 and thefeed-member 93. A helical torsion spring 129 is disposed about the headof the screw 124, and has the end 130 thereof anchored in a hole in theplate 123, while the free end 131 thereof is suitably bent either toextend into and be vertically movable within the channel 126 and to bearupwardly against the lower edges or faces 132 of the slot 26 of thefeed-member 93; thereby resiliently to urge said feedmember 93 in anupward direction against the lower surface of the membrane 118 beneaththe plate 86 which also functions as the upper guide for said tape-feedmember 93.

The tape-feed member 93 is provided with a pair of ticket-feedingfingers 134 and 135 having generally vertical feeding faces 136, andhaving their horizontal terminal edges 137 disposed at generally thesame angle as that of the edges 138 of the V-shaped notches 139 alongthe opposite marginal edges of the tape 25; the facing apices of whichnotches delineate the boundary-lines 140 between succesiveticket-portions 110, and along which lines the tape is cut, by thecutters 188 and 191 described hereinafter, as each successiveticket-portion 110 is paid out on the left side of the press-platen 48during successive downward motions of the printer-arms. As will be seenfrom FIGURES l4 and 15, the tape-feed member 93 underlies the frontmarginal portion of the ticket-tape 25 which is below the lowermostprint-line 77 and printingwindow 113 and press-pad 66. Along this lowermarginal zone the ticket-tape is supported or backed up "by the thinresilient membrane 118 (FIGURE 9) and the upper plate 86 of theticket-guide 85. The distance between the two fingers 134 and 135 is thesame as the distance between successive notches 139, as shown in FIGURE15. As the ticket-feed member 93 is horizontally reciprocated to andfro, parallel with the front surface 94 of the press-platen 48 andparallel with the lower surface of the membrane 118 beneath the plate86, and through a travel-path slightly greater than the distance betweensuccessive notches 139, the fingers 134 and 135 thereof will engage theedges 138 of pairs of notches 139 and will thus interlock therewith andadvance the ticket-tape 25 a distance equal to one ticket-length 110with each leftward stroke of the feed-member 93. Upon the rightwardstroke of the feedmember 93, the spring 129 will yield and permit thefeedmember 93- to be depressed downwardly sufficiently to permit fingers134 and 135 thereof to ride beneath and in contact with the lowersurface of the ticket-tape, intermediate the notches 139 thereof.

A driving slider 141 is slidably mounted on the rod 121, to the left ofthe slider 122, and a helical tension spring 142 is operativelyinterposed between the sliders 122 and 141, by having its opposite endssecured to suitable anchorage means on said sliders, so that the drivingslider 141 will pull the slider 122 after it when moved in a leftward ortape-advancing direction and so that it will move the slider 122 in arightward or finger-retracting direction by direct contact therewith asindicated in FIGURE 14. By means of this spring or resilienttapeadvancing connection between the sliders 122 and 141, the latter isenabled to travel a short distance in a leftward direction beyond theleft end of the travel-path of the slider 122, so that when the left end143 of the feedmember 93 is brought up against the stop-surface 144, by

9 which the limit of its ticket-advancing travel is fixed, the drivingslider 141 may still move a slight additional distance in a leftwarddirection; thereby assuring the full feeding stroke of thefeeding-member 93.

A pivot-supporting member 145 is pivotally mounted to the right framemember 1, by means of the shouldered pivot-screw 146 whoselarger-diametered journal portion extends through the pivot-opening 147and whose smallerdiametered threaded portion 148 extends through theframe plate 1 and is secured thereto by the nut 149. By this means, thepivot-carrying or pivot-supporting member 145 is journaled about a fixedaxis at a right angle to the vertical frame plate 1. A feed-link 150 isoperatively interposed between the pivot-carrying member 145 and thedriving slider 141, the latter is moved leftwardly each by suitableshouldered pivot-screws 151 and 152, as indicated in FIGURES 7 and 13.By means of this interlinking between the pivot-supporting member 145and the driving slider 141 the latter is moved leftwardly through itsticket-advancing stroke during the downward motion of the printer-arms38 and 39 and of the pressplaten 48, and is moved in its rightwardretracting direction during the upward or printing stroke of saidprinter-arms and press-platen; thereby to advance the tickettape 25 thelength of one ticket-portion 110 during each retracting or downwardswing of the printer-arm's.

The inker designated generally by the numeral 155 comprises a lowerbed-plate 156 whose forward portion 157 is at a suitable angle inrelation to its rearward portion and carries the downwardly-extendingpivot-flanges or pivot-portions 158, preferably formed integral therewith. The front edge of the portion 157 of the inker is offset in threesteps (as indicated in FIGURE 9) corresponding to the offsetting of thethree printing positions 81, 82 and 83 and the similar offsetting of theselected type-faces in the three channels 11, 12 and 13. The lower inkerplate 156 has upwardly extending marginal flanges 160 along outerperiphery thereof. Along its front edges these flanges are of a heightslightly less than the height of the inking pads 26a, 26b and 260. Thefront portions of the flanges 160 confine the inking pads 26horizontally and yet permitting them to be pressed upwardly against theselected type-faces of the aforementioned type-bars when the inker is inits inking position, without interference from said flanges 160.

The inker 155 further includes an upper cover-plate 166, which isgenerally parallel with the lower plate 156, has has its front edgesoffset similar to the front edges of the lower plate 156, but is shorterthan the latter by an amount approximately equal to the fore-and-aftdimension of the inking pads 26; whose fore-and-aft dimension is justsufficiently greater than the fore-and-aft dimension of the type-facesto assure adequate type coverage.

The upper cover-plate 166 resets on (or between) the upturned marginalflanges 160 of the lower plate 156, and may have a rear flange 167 bentdownwardly and forwardly so as to engage beneath the rear end of thelower plate 156, as indicated in FIGURE 7. Ink-supply holes 168 areprovided in the upper cover-plate 166. Inkconducting wicks 169 aredisposed between the lower and upper plates 156 and 166 and extend fromthe holes 169 to the pads 26. The pads 26 may rest on the front ends ofor abut the wicks 169. Longitudinally extending riblike partitions orseparators 165 are provided between the wicks, so as to keep the inkcontents thereof from mixing.

The lower ends of similar inker-suspension links 170 are pivoted to thepivot flanges or members 158 of the inker 155, by means of the oppositeends of the pivot-rod 171 which extends through the pivot-flanges 158and on the ends of which the links 170 are retained by splitretainer-rings mounted in ring-receiving grooves in the ends of saidpivot-rod, as indicated in FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 9. The upper ends of theinker-suspension links 170 are 10 pivoted to the vertical side-frameplates shouldered pivot-screws 172.

The rear end of the inker rests on the inker rollershaft or pivot-rod175 or on a spacer-tube 174 on sur rounding such pivot-rod 175, asindicated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 9, or the pivot-rod 1 75 may extendthrough eyelets or pivot-holes 161 in the lower flanges 162 of the inker155, as indicated in FIGURES 25 to 32. Camrollers 176 are rotatablymounted on the rod 175 and ride in the cam-slots 178 in the verticalside-frame plates 1 and 2, as indicated in FIGURE-S 5 and 6. The lowerinkerplate 156 may be provided with a downwardly bent flat spring-finger180, having a slight forward bend, which is adapted resiliently tointerlock with spacer-tube 174- on the inker-roller shaft 175, so as tokeep the rear end of the inker 155 against said spacer-tube 174, or thepivotrod 175 passes through holes in the downwardly extending flanges ofthe inker.

The rear ends of similar inker-driving links 182 are pivoted on theopposite ends of the inker-roller shaft 175, adjacent the opposite sidesof the inker 155 and adjacent the cam-rollers 176, as indicated inFIGURES 7 and 9. The front-ends of the inker-driving links 182 arepivoted on similar eccentrics 184 carried by similar inker-adjustmentlevers 185 which are rigidly but adjustably secured to the rear ends ofthe printer-arms 38 and 39 by means of set-screws 186 which pass throughclearance-holes in the eccentric-and-lever members 184 and 185 and arescrew-threaded into the rear ends of the printer-arms 38 and 39 so thatby loosening the screws 186 the eccentrics 184 may be rotated so as todispose their centers in the desired position of adjustment which willbring the inking pads 26 into appropriate contact with the selectedtype-faces of the type-bars; whereupon the screws 186 may be tightenedso as to fix the eccentrics 184 in their so adjusted positions.

By means of this interlinking of the pivot-shaft 175 (carrying thecam-follower rollers 176) and the rear ends of the printer-arms 38 and39, the inker 155 is moved rearwardly as the printer-arms are swungupwardly, so that the inking pads 26 are swung downwardly andrearwardly, out of the path and clear of the press-platen 48, and sothat upon the downward swinging of the printerarms the inker 155 ismoved forwardly so that the inking pads 26 thereof will be swungforwardly and upwardly into inking contact with the selected type-facesin the three printing positions in the channels 11, 12 and 13, as suchselected type-faces are exposed through the gap between the facing ends7 and 8 of the type-bar bed-plates 5 and 6. a

The cam-slots 178 are so shaped as to cause the rear end of the inker155 to travel in a path which will bring the inking pads 26 parallelwith the type-bars as the inking 1 and 2 by the pads come into closeproximity of the type-faces thereof and so as to cause the inking padsto move in a path generally normal to the type-bars during the terminalportion of their inking stroke.

A cutter blade 188 is secured to the left end-face of the press-platen48, with its cutting-edge 189 generally at the level of the press-pads68, by means of the screws 190. A stationary cutter blade or member 191is adjustably secured to the left vertical frame plate 2, by the screw192, in operative juxtaposition to the lower cutter blade 188 (asindicated in FIGURE 6), so that as the press-platen 48 reaches itsuppermost or printing position, the juxtaposed cutting edges of the twocutters 188 and 191 will have passed each other just sufliciently to cutoff the terminal ticket-portion 110 which projects outwardly beyond thepress-platen as a result of the last previous ticket-advancementeffected by the ticket-feeding member 93 during the last previousdownward motion of the printer-arms 38 and 39, in the manner hereinaboveindicated.

Any suitable counter 194, having a trip-lever 195, may be mounted on theside frame plate 1, as indicated in FIGURES 5 and 9, by means of anysuitable supporting bracket 196, with its trip-lever 195 in operativealignment with the inker-roller-shaft 175 or an extension thereof, sothat with each upward printing stroke of the printer-arms and theconsequent rearward travel of the inking-rollershaft 175, the latterwill engage and move the trip-lever 195 rearwardly and thus cause thecounter to advance its counting wheels by one.

The motor 198, suitably mounted upon the rear bracket 4, has a pulley199 in operative alignment with the beltreceiving or pulley portion 200of the drive wheel 54. A belt 201, which may be of round cross-sectionor of any other suitable cross-section, extends over the driving pulley199 of the motor and over the pulley portion 200 of the drive wheel 54,and may be tensioned by an idler pulley 202 suitably mounted inalignment with the pulleys 199 and 200.

The tape-roll bracket 203 is detachably secured to the right verticalframe plate 1, and has a base portion or foot 204 adapted to rest on thetable or other supporting surface upon which the machine is rested, andalso has an inclined roll-mounting plate 205 carrying a pivot 206 uponwhich a roll-spindle 207 is rotatably mounted. The tape-roll is placedover the spindle 207.

Having shown and described an embodiment of my invention I claim thefollowing:

1. A ticket printing and dispensing machine for alternately printing aticket-length portion of a tape and advancing the tape to deliver animprinted ticket-length thereof, including (a) a stationary type-supportarranged stationarily to support type-bearing members during successiveinkings thereof and during printing impressions therefrom,

(b) a plurality of multi-face type-bearing members stationarilysupported by said type-support for the successive inkings thereof andprinting impressions therefrom, and said type-bearing members beingmovable in relation to said type-support to permit the selected one ofthe type-faces thereof to be presented facing downwardly in the printingzone of the machine while the other type-faces thereof are out of suchprinting zone,

(-c) an upwardly-facing oscillatably mounted pressplaten in operativejuxtaposition to the selected typefaces of said type-bearing members inthe printing zone, said press-platen being arranged to oscillate to andfro between an upper printing position thereof in which it presses thebelow-mentioned tape against the selected type-faces of saidtype-bearing members and a lower retracted position in which thepressplaten is withdrawn from such tape-pressing position thereof,

((1) a tape-guide for guiding tape across said pressplaten and arrangedto oscillate to and fro in unison therewith,

(e) a support for rotatably supporting a roll of tickettape about astationary axis of rotation and arranged to have the tape from such rollextend to and through the oscillatable tape-guide,

(f) a tape-feeder in operative juxtaposition to said press-platen andtape-guide and arranged to oscillate to and fro in unison therewith,said tape-feeder being arranged intermittently to advance the tapethrough said tape-guide by a ticket-length during the re tracting motionof the press-platen and simultaneously to move a ticket-length of thetape into a ticket-dispensing position beyond the press-platen,

(g) an oscillatably mounted inker having an ink-pad and arranged tooscillate to and fro between an inking position thereof in which theink-pad thereof in contact with the type-faces in the printing zone anda retracted position thereof in which the ink-pad is withdrawn from suchinking position to a position clear of the oscillating path of thepress-platen.

(b) means operatively interposed between the pressplaten and the inkerfor causing the latter to oscillate in timed relation to theoscillations of the pressplaten so that the inker will be in itsretracted position when the press-platen is in its printing position andvice versa.

2. A machine according to claim 1 including a link having one endthereof pivoted about a stationary pivotaxis and having the other endthereof pivoted to one end of the inker and arranged to support andguide said end of the inker, and including a stationary cam, andincluding a cam-follower carried by the other end of said inker anddisposed in operative juxaposition to said cam, said cam andcam-follower being arranged to support and guide the last-mentioned endof said inker.

3. A machine according to claim 1 including a pressplaten-arm pivotedabout a stationary axis of pivotation and carrying the press-platen atan end thereof, a driveshaft, an arm-oscillator operated by saiddrive-shaft and connected with said press-platen-arm and arranged tooscillate the latter to and fro about its aforementioned axis ofpivotation with each revolution of the drive-shaft, and aninker-oscillator operatively connected with the press-platen-arrn andwith the inker for operatively oscillating the latter in synchronismwith the former and arranged to oscillate the inker through its inkingmotion during the retracting motion of the press-platen-arm and tooscillate the inker through its retracting motion during the printingmotion of the press-platen-arm.

4. A machine according to claim 1 including a stationary cutter, andmovable cutter in the operative juxtaposition thereto, and means formoving the latter through its cutting motion during the terminal portionof the printing motion of the press-platen.

5. A machine according to claim 1 in which the pressplaten and the inkerare pivotally mounted.

6. A machine according to claim 1, in which the motion of the ink-padportion of the inker is generally normal to the plane of the type-facesin the printing zone when the ink-pad contacts said type-faces.

7. A machine according to claim 1, in which the stationary type-supportincludes channels and in which the type-bearing members are barsslidably mounted in said channels for changing the type-faces thereofpresented in the printing-zone.

8. A machine according to claim 1, in which the tapeguide comprises afenestrated panel spaced from the pressplaten in close proximity to theface thereof, with a clearance therebetween for the passage of the tapebetween the face of the platen to the tape-guide panel, and in which athin print-barring sheet is disposed between said tape-guide panel andthe platen-face.

9. A machine according to claim 1, in which the tapefeeder is carried bythe press-platen and oscillates to and fro therewith, and includinglinkage having one end thereof stationarily supported and the other endthereof connected to said tape-feeder and arranged to oscillate saidtape-feeder in synchronism with the oscillation of the press-platen.

10. A machine according to claim 1, in which the tapeguide includes aplate having a plurality of printing windows and plurality oftype-clearance windows, and including a print-barring sheet adjacent theinner face of said tape-guide plate having printing windows inregistration with the printing windows of the tape-guide plate and beingimperforate in the areas thereof in registration with the type-clearancewindows of said tape-guide plate.

11. A machine according to claim 1, including a stationary tape-cutter,a movable tape-cutter carried by the press-platen in operativejuxtaposition to said stationary tape-cutter, said cutters beingdisposed in operative juxtaposition to the tape-dispensing position andarranged to cut from the tape the ticket-length thereof which is in theticket-dispensing position beyond the press-platen.

(References on following page) References Cited 2,271,840 2/1942 Kohnle101-292 2,402,651 6/1946 Manwaring 101-368 UNITED STATES PATENTS2,438,118 3/1948 Flood 101-288 11/1915 Jacobus 101-293 2,553,709 5/1951Henry 101-288 5/1920 Davis 101-288. 5 2,708,873 5/1955 Braun 101-1910/1926 Baillie 101-19 2,890,650 6/1959 Bone et a1. 101-19 2/1933Laencher 101-292 3,096,712 7/ 963 Filsinger 101-288 7/1933 Hoffman101-109 3,151,544 10/1964 Taylor et a1. 101-288 4/1934 Fassmann 101-2886/ 1938 Flood 101-288 10 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

8/1939 Paris 101-368

1. A TICKET PRINTING AND DISPENSING MACHINE FOR ALTERNATELY PRINTING ATICKET-LENGTH PORTION OF A TAPE AND ADVANCING THE TAPE TO DELIVER ANIMPRINTED TICKET-LENGTH THEREOF, INCLUDING (A) A STATIONARY TYPE-SUPPORTARRANGED STATIONARILY TO SUPPORT TYPE-BEARING MEMBERS DURING SUCCESSIVEINKINGS THEREOF AND DURING PRINTING IMPRESSIONS THEREFROM, (B) APLURALITY OF MULTI-FACE TYPE-BEARING MEMBERS STATIONARILY SUPPORTED BYSAID TYPE-SUPPORT FOR THE SUCCESSIVE INKINGS THEREOF AND PRINTINGIMPRESSIONS THEREFROM, AND SAID TYPE-BEARING MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE INRELATION TO SAID TYPE-SUPPORT TO PERMIT THE SELECTED ONE OF THETYPE-FACES THEREOF TO BE PRESENTED FACING DOWNWARDLY IN THE PRINTINGZONE OF THE MACHINE WHILE THE OTHER TYPE-FACES THEREOF ARE OUT OF SUCHPRINTING ZONE, (C) AN UPWARDLY-FACING OSCILLATABLY MOUNTED PRESSPLATENIN OPERATIVE JUXTAPOSITION TO THE SELECTED TYPEFACES OF SAIDTYPE-BEARING MEMBERS IN THE PRINTING ZONE, SAID PRESS-PLATEN BEINGARRANGED TO OSCILLATE TO AND FRO BETWEEN AN UPPER PRINTING POSITIONTHEREOF IN WHICH IT PRESSES THE BELOW-MENTIONED TAPE AGAINST THESELECTED TYPE-FACES OF SAID TYPE-BEARING MEMBERS AND A LOWER RETRACTEDPOSITION IN WHICH THE PRESSPLATEN IS WITHDRAWN FROM SUCH TAPE-PRESSINGPOSITION THEREOF, (D) A TAPE-GUIDE FOR GUIDING TAPE ACROSS SAIDPRESSPLATEN AND ARRANGED TO OSCILLATE TO AND FRO IN UNISON THEREWITH,(E) A SUPPORT FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING A ROLL OF TICKETTAPE ABOUT ASTATIONARY AXIS OF ROTATION AND ARRANGED TO HAVE THE TAPE FROM SUCH ROLLEXTENDED TO AND THROUGH THE OSCILLATABLE TAPE-GUIDE (F) A TAPE-FEEDER INOPERATIVE JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID PRESS-PLATEN AND TAPE-GUIDE AND ARRANGEDTO OSCILLATE TO AND FRO IN UNISON THEREWITH, SAID TAPE-FEEDER BEINGARRANGED INTERMETTENTLY TO ADVANCE THE TAPE THROUGH SAID TAPE-GUIDE BY ATICKET-LENGTH DURING THE RETRACTING MOTION OF THE PRESS-PLATEN ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY TO MOVE A TICKET-LENGTH OF THE TAPE INTO ATICKET-DISPENSING POSITION BEYOND THE PRESS-PLATEN, (G) AN OSCILLATABLYMOUNTED INKER HAVING AN INK-PAD AND ARRANGED TO OSCILLATE TO AND FROBETWEEN AN INKING POSITION THEREOF IN WHICH THE INK-PAD THEREOF INCONTACT WITH THE TYPE-FACES IN THE PRINTING ZONE AND A RETRACTEDPOSITION THEREOF IN WHICH THE INK-PAD IS WITHDRAWN FROM SUCH POSITION TOA POSITION CLEAR OF THE OSCILLATING PATH OF THE PRESS-PLATEN. (H) MEANSOPERATIVELY INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE PRESSPLATEN AND THE INKER FOR CAUSINGTHE LATTER TO OSCILLATE IN TIMED RELATION TO THE OSCILLATIONS OF THEPRESSPLATEN SO THAT THE INKER WILL BE IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION WHEN THEPRESS-PLATEN IS IN ITS PRINTING POSITION AND VICE VERSA.